Move it or leave it?

[Highland Fashionista]

The light debate. I know this is a topic that has a lot of different opinions, but here goes. I have this one phal that seems to be more sensitive to light than the others. We have been having a stretch of really sunny weather in the Highlands (I know, RIGHT?!) so my chids have been getting longer exposure in the SW corner of my conservatory than usual. I use a south and SW exposure because the conservatory is very greenouse-lke in summer, and in Scotland, you don't get high light conditions like, EVER (except this week). They get the more direct mid to late day sun in their current location.

So this one little rescue phal has the telltale purple tinge, which I don't so much mind (many of my plants do and are thriving), but it seems a bit more sensitive in that it is a bit yellowing (hard to see in photo). It wasn't the most healthy-looking plant to begin with (kind of thin and weak looking), but it has been plugging along, and I had been kind of waiting for it to drop the rest of its blooms before I did anything too radical. It is starting to make a new root though (even while in bloom), so I'm sort of inclined to leave it where it is, occasional bursts of direct later-day sun and all.

We have clouds again today anyway...is it okay to let them bask in the occasional burst of hot and sunny weather, even if it is intense?

Sorry, the attachments seem to always attach themselves upside down and sideways, even when they look upright on my computer. Must be because i used my iPhone.

[james mickelso]

Other than looking a little less turgid than what I would consider healthy, this looks ok. The color can be light induced or just the hybrid. I have some who are very purple and some with some purple and some just plain green. With the coarse media that it is potted in you can water a little more. As long as it is getting good air flow through the media it can be watered more. Care must be exercised to avoid much direct light on the leaves. they are full of water and scorch easily. Putting a sheer curtain across the window will reduce the light to acceptable levels.

[tucker85]

I wouldn't worry about the red tinge. Like James, many of my orchids have that color and to tell you the truth, I kind of like it. As long as the leaves don't burn, you're probably fine. Like James said, some phals naturally have that maroon color on the undersides of the leaves.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Generally, the Phal you mention is ok. Like it was mentioned, it is looking a little desiccated, but it is otherwise manageable.

How often do you water this orchid?

[Highland Fashionista]

This week I've just increased the frequency. I think it took a hit while I was out of town for a week and it got sunny in the conservatory, but this plant has always been a bit on the dry side. That is how I got it for £3.00 on the sale rack at Tesco.

I am now watering about twice per week when it is hotter and sunny, which it seems to need.

[Optimist]

I wonder instead of moving it, could you put up a sun blocking shade. I do well with inexpensive (doller store) translucent shower curtains. When your normal gloomy weather returns you can take it down.

[Highland Fashionista]

It's already back! The normal gloomy weather. That might have been summer in its entirety, now that I think of it...